Tamora Pierce Quotes

Powerful Tamora Pierce for Daily Growth

About Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce, a prolific author of fantasy literature, was born on March 19, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan. Growing up, she developed a deep love for mythology and storytelling, which would later become the foundation of her extraordinary career. At the age of 16, Pierce left home to pursue her passion for storytelling at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she studied anthropology, immersing herself in various cultures and their mythologies, a significant influence on her future works. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree, Pierce moved to New York City to work as an editor for Ace Books. This experience provided valuable insights into the publishing industry, which would prove beneficial when she began writing her own novels. In 1983, Pierce published her debut novel, 'Alanna: The First Adventure,' the first book in the acclaimed 'Song of the Lioness' series. Set in the fictional kingdom of Tortall, the series follows Alanna, a young girl disguised as a boy who trains to become a knight and eventually becomes a queen. This groundbreaking work was one of the first fantasy novels to feature a strong female protagonist, earning Pierce a dedicated following among young readers. Throughout her career, Tamora Pierce has written numerous other series, including 'The Immortals,' 'The Circle of Magic,' and 'The Protector of the Small.' Her works are known for their strong, complex female characters and exploration of social issues such as gender roles, prejudice, and power dynamics. Pierce continues to write and publish today, her stories inspiring generations of readers and solidifying her place as a beloved figure in fantasy literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Good and bad exist side by side. The fight between them is in our hearts."

This quote by Tamora Pierce suggests that morality, represented by 'good' and 'bad', coexist within individuals and society. The struggle between these two forces lies within each person's heart, implying that everyone has the capacity for both virtuous and unvirtuous actions. It encourages self-reflection and acknowledges the complexity of human nature, emphasizing that personal growth and moral development involve navigating this internal conflict.


"Everyone has a destiny. We meet people when it's time to learn something from them. Some people change your life forever, in small ways or big ones."

This quote by Tamora Pierce suggests that every individual has a unique purpose or destiny in life. It implies that our interactions with others, particularly significant ones, are not mere coincidences but opportunities for growth and learning. These encounters, whether they bring about profound transformations or subtle changes, play pivotal roles in shaping our lives and helping us realize our destinies.


"Always speak the truth, then you don't have to remember what you said."

This quote emphasizes the importance of honesty in one's actions and words. By always speaking the truth, one does not need to fabricate stories or keep track of lies, making life simpler and less stressful. Honesty fosters trust and integrity, strengthening relationships and personal character. It is a fundamental principle that guides ethical behavior, promoting transparency and fostering a sense of accountability in all aspects of life.


"The more you know about yourself, the more you find out how much you don't know."

This quote emphasizes the idea that self-awareness is a continuous process. The more we learn about ourselves, the more dimensions and complexities we uncover, revealing how little we truly understand about our own thoughts, feelings, motivations, and potential. It underscores the importance of lifelong introspection and personal growth in shaping our identity and understanding the depths of our being.


"If you want something done, ask a busy person."

The quote "If you want something done, ask a busy person" suggests that those who are actively engaged in multiple tasks or activities tend to be efficient, reliable, and capable of managing responsibilities effectively. It implies that when seeking help for a task, someone who is already occupied with various duties may be the best choice due to their demonstrated ability to prioritize, organize, and complete tasks efficiently. In essence, this quote highlights the importance of looking towards productive individuals when delegating tasks or seeking assistance.


If we just allowed women and men more leeway in our culture and more acceptance, I think they would be able to make better compromises.

- Tamora Pierce

Think, I Think, Allowed, Compromises

Teen problem novels? I can go through them like a box of chocolates. And there are fantasy books out now that need a lot more editing. Fantasy got to be so popular that people began to think 'We don't need to be as diligent with the razor blade,' but they do.

- Tamora Pierce

Box, Through, Diligent, Razor

I don't write from dreams because I don't remember mine, but I had a fragment of an image left about twins, whose father was telling them how their lives were going to go for the next eight years. I wrote a scene about that, and then another and then another and then another, and after five months I had 732 pages.

- Tamora Pierce

Father, Next, Telling, Fragment

Publishers have realized that, unlike the previous time period, American teenagers are both smarter and require more topical material than they had been giving them before that. For one thing, they'll read thicker books. Besides, has anybody looked at the news or read the newspapers recently?

- Tamora Pierce

Been, Before, Topical, Smarter

Most important of all, there is no right or wrong way to write - there's only what works for you. I was taught to write every day, but I know a writer (a bestseller at that!) who only writes on weekends.

- Tamora Pierce

Every Day, Weekends, Works, Bestseller

With each book, in each place, I have to keep an ongoing map as I write because otherwise I don't know where I am.

- Tamora Pierce

Book, I Write, Otherwise, Map

I believe that we haven't begun to understand the many forces that bind the physical world, any more than we understand our own minds and what they're capable of.

- Tamora Pierce

Own, Understand, More, Bind

If you aren't having fun, if you aren't anxious to find out what happens next as you write, then not only will you run out of steam on the story, but you won't be able to entertain anyone else, either.

- Tamora Pierce

Run, Next, Entertain, Steam

I come from a dysfunctional family, so my views of parents and parenting used to be highly mixed.

- Tamora Pierce

Come, Dysfunctional, Mixed, Highly

The fantasy that appeals most to people is the kind that's rooted thoroughly in somebody looking around a corner and thinking, 'What if I wandered into this writer's people here?' If you've done your job and made your people and your settings well enough, that adds an extra dimension that you can't buy.

- Tamora Pierce

Here, Buy, Wandered, Extra

I'm of the Samuel Goldwyn school of writing: If you need to send a message, call Western Union. Any messages people take away from my books are the ones they see in them.

- Tamora Pierce

School, See, Away, Send

I've written short stories in first person, but you have so much more control writing in third person. Third person, you know what everybody's thinking. First person is very limiting, and I could never sustain a first person novel before.

- Tamora Pierce

Everybody, Before, Very, Limiting

I love meeting fans. They're always fun, they always have good things to say, smart questions to ask, and plenty of ideas for me to explore in the future.

- Tamora Pierce

Love, Explore, Always, Good Things

After I recovered from 'Lioness', I wanted to write something about animals because I really like mythical creatures, especially dragons. At 12, I was one of those semi-recluses who did better with animals than people. Out of that, came the character, Daine, who could communicate with animals.

- Tamora Pierce

Communicate, Out, About, Mythical

What happens to each of my female heroes, certainly, is they find something bigger than themselves that they are honored to serve. It's not giving up your family.

- Tamora Pierce

Giving Up, Bigger, Certainly, Not Giving Up

Anyone who tells you they don't need to rewrite, they're usually the ones who need it worst.

- Tamora Pierce

Need, Tells, Anyone, Rewrite

I was nuts for stuff in the Middle Ages when I was just in the third and fourth grades.

- Tamora Pierce

Nuts, Middle, Third, Middle Ages

My husband and I click wedding rings sometimes and say, 'By the power of the Castle of Greyskull!'

- Tamora Pierce

Husband, Sometimes, Castle, Rings

One of the things I strive for is realism. I need to be as real as possible in the dilemmas my characters face.

- Tamora Pierce

Need, One Of The Things, Dilemmas

You have an audience that is fairly well grounded in the real world. You serve them and yourself best by making everything as real as possible.

- Tamora Pierce

Audience, Making, Fairly, The Real World

We live in a dark time. Books are as dark as what is available to teenagers through the media every day.

- Tamora Pierce

Media, Every Day, Through, Teenagers

Books are as dark as what is available to teenagers through the media every day.

- Tamora Pierce

Every Day, Through, Books, Teenagers

Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' just rocked my world in the late '80s and early '90s. I couldn't read them fast enough.

- Tamora Pierce

Enough, Them, Read, Neil

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